Decent Sampler vs samplv1
Decent Sampler
decentsamples.comsamplv1
samplv1.sourceforge.ioSide by side
| Figure | Decent Sampler | samplv1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Sampler Software | 8.8 (#2) | 7.3 (#20) |
| Latest release | Version 1.38.0 was released October 15, 2026 and added default window sizing controls, resize fixes and a Linux crash fix. | The home page lists version 1.5.0, released September 15, 2026, with a factory/community presets install package and updated theme options. |
Plans
In their own words
Decent Sampler
Decent Sampler is a free sample player for libraries in DecentSampler format. It opens.dspreset and.dslibrary files and is available as a standalone app or a plugin. Supported systems include Windows 10 and later, Mac computers with Intel or Apple Silicon, Linux x64 and ARM64, and iOS; plugin formats differ by platform. Its supported sample formats include WAV, AIFF, and FLAC, and it offers sample mapping and round-robin playback. The product page lists version 1.34.0, with updates including shelf EQ, darker delay repeats, and the ability to turn modulators on or off. Usage guides cover Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic, and GarageBand. Downloading requires an email address. The maker also provides library-creation documentation and directs creators to its Q&A page and Pianobook Discord help channel. Bug reports can be submitted through a contact form or bug tracker, which requires a separate account. The listed price is free.
samplv1
samplv1 is a free, open-source, all-digital polyphonic sampler synthesizer for Linux with stereo effects. It runs as a standalone JACK client with JACK-session and NSM session management, accepting MIDI through JACK MIDI or ALSA MIDI. It is also available as an LV2 instrument plugin. The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or later, and its listed free plan costs nothing. The home page lists version 1.5.0, released September 15, 2026, with a package for factory and community presets and updated theme options. Qt and libsndfile are required to build and run it. JACK, ALSA, LV2, FFTW3, Rubber Band, and liblo are optional build components; liblo is needed for NSM support. CMake instructions cover building from the source tarball, using /usr/local by default. User settings are stored in $HOME/.config/rncbc.org/samplv1.conf. The project says bugs remain but considers the software production and stable. Development matters go through its SourceForge project page.